No Filter
Written by Sarah Frier, this book highlighted the power Instagram came to hold in society… even among those who didn’t use it. Public spaces became “Insta-worthy.” Coffee shops didn’t just make beautiful latte art, they arranged their decor with the app in mind. Even dogs and cats have become Instagram celebrities. Think about the way in which we have changed our daily actions to revolve around our posting.
This reminded me of the early 2016 trend, “phone eats first.” The way that this trend was extremely real and used by people everywhere is where things become a little more intense. Where is the line drawn? I myself participated in the trend and it was so toxic.
Sarah brings Instagram’s cultural impact into what might otherwise be a cold-eyed business story, adding strong context, and giving everyone who uses the app and are not billionaires, something we can relate to. But the book’s valuable lessons that are told in a narrative voice, relying on interviews with hundreds of employees and others close to the companies — rests in the human drama among the navigating Silicon Valley’s toxic environment.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I was hooked right from the start and felt like I really learned something. I highlighted some of my favorite aspects of the book, but the real depth of the book came into play when differentiating Facebook and Instagram. This is where we can see what drives each platform. Instagram is supposed to be the place where we express our creative side and is marketed as such, but Facebook is more analytical. I had the most difficult time understanding this part of the concept, but I really enjoyed it.
I would rate this book an 8/10. There is always room for improvement, but I felt like Sarah Frier really invested her time into properly analyzing and explaining the concepts that are intertwined with our reality, but seldom spoken about. I think we can all benefit from taking more reflective time on our actions on social media and just get a better grasp on how we choose to present ourselves on social media. The person who created the app realizes its toxicity, so I think we should too.
